That’s why when Kristy and John Cotthaus, owners of dog training business Zoom Room Virginia Beach, first heard about Strudel over the summer, they knew they had to help.

ZOOM ROOM VIRGINIA BEACH

Strudel before her first class with Zoom Room Virginia Beach.

Strudel had just come into the care of dog rescue group Hearts for Hounds, where she ended up after the death of her elderly owner. Weighing in at almost 81 pounds, the 7-year-old Strudel was visibly far too heavy and suffering from issues like inflamed joints.

The couple offered their fitness services for free, working with a veterinarian to develop a proper diet plan and designing an agility course that wouldn’t be too strenuous. In spite of her heft, Strudel was a natural.

“We motivate dogs with treats, toys and praise but Strudel was actually easy, it’s almost like she knew what she had to do,” Kristy Cotthaus told HuffPost in an email. “We didn’t have to use any treats at all because she was motivated to do the agility [course] with just lots of praise.”